The silence in the room was heavy, pressing against the walls like a storm waiting to break. Nora stood still, her head bowed low, the shadows dancing across her face as Zayan entered, his expression unreadable.
He stopped a few feet away from her. "Did you put the snake in her purse?" he asked quietly, his voice calm but cold.
Nora didn't lift her head. Her fingers trembled slightly, but she nodded.
Zayan took a slow step forward, then another, until he was standing directly in front of her. He bent down, so close their breaths touched. "Why?" he whispered.
A long pause.
Then Nora finally spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. "Because I hate her. She always looks at you like she owns you. Like I'm invisible. I wanted to scare her… make her feel small, just once." Her voice cracked. "I've done more too. I messed with her clothes, ruined her makeup, even locked her in the wine cellar once. I wanted her gone. I wanted to be the only one you saw."
Zayan was quiet for a moment, studying her like a puzzle he couldn't quite solve. Then, slowly, he reached out and patted her head. "It's fine," he said gently. "Just… be careful, okay?"
Nora's eyes finally met his, confusion flickering behind them.
"I'm leaving for Paris. Work stuff," he added, straightening. "I'll be gone for two weeks."
She took a small step forward, lips parting, but before she could speak, he pulled her into him, wrapping his arms around her waist. He leaned down and kissed her — slow, soft, unhurried. A kiss that held back everything he wanted but wasn't ready to take. Not yet.
When he pulled away, he cupped her face, his thumb brushing her cheek. "When you're ready," he whispered, "I'll be here, darling."
Then he turned and walked out, leaving Nora alone in the dim light, her heart thundering in her chest.